minutes after midnight

as the late summer winds fluttered
through the aspens
outside our window
i reached my hand across 
towards you
through the layers of comforter
the tangle of sheets
and random tumble of pillows
hoping to find
one of the usual
curved stretch of quadricep
deep low back cleft of muscle
short hooked hold of a hipbone 
to lock my fingers around
side breast to trace in a hopeful semicircle
or a tricep to linger up
to the nape of your neck
and entangle my fingers into your hair

instead my hand met yours
suddenly sliding across your side 
grasping mine in yours so quickly
in the handshake of a long lost friend
or of an ally thought lost in battle

the perfect fit of it 
and the way your grip released so slowly
our carpals bumping tenderly across each other 
as they slowly drifted apart 

confirmed our connection 
more completely than 

any other touch of your skin
in any other place

stunned once again
by getting exactly what i unexpectedly needed